Bikie reward system not working: expert

4BC Nights: In October 2013, Police Minister Jack Dempsey announced Queensland’s Crime Stoppers would be allocated $5 million in reward funding for information about criminal gangs or bikies.

But so far only $1,150 has been paid out.

Dr Terry Goldsworthy, Bond University Criminologist said the information being provided has not necessarily helped the crackdown on bikies.

“[Crime Stoppers] have received about 1200 pieces of information,” he said.

“124 offenders have been arrested in r elation to drug and property and weapon matters, but interestingly though, only 22 people can actually be able  to have shown to have any links to any criminal organisations.

“That’s not necessarily saying they’re a bikie member, it just saying they have an association or links to a criminal organisation - it’d interesting to see how many of those 22 were actually bikies.”

Between 2000 and 2010 Queensland police – a separate organisation from Crime Stoppers – paid out $900,000 in rewards between 2000 to 2010.

Figures weren’t available for Crime Stoppers and Dr Goldsworthy said they’d be quite different to QPS figures.

He said the reward campaign has not had the outcome the Government anticipated..

“This reward system has been highly advertised, and to only have one sucessful pay out, indicates to me that I don’t think it’s a success.”

 

LISTEN: Criminologist Dr Terry Goldsworthy says the reward system may not be working.